Medical devices incorporating functional adhesives

ABSTRACT

A method for bonding a polymeric medical device to tissue is provided which includes providing a polymeric medical device having a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair attached on a surface of the medical device, and providing tissue with a plurality of complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair, wherein upon contact of the reactive members on the surface of the medical device with the complimentary reactive members on the tissue, covalent bonds are formed between the reactive members and the complementary reactive members, thus adhering the device to the tissue. A kit is provided including a polymeric medical device such as a patch or mesh having a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair attached to a surface of the device and an applicator containing a solution or suspension of complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair, the complementary reactive members having a functionality that will adhere them to biological tissue upon contact, said applicator adapted to deliver the solution or suspension to biological tissue.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/154,367 filed Feb. 21, 2009.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to adhesive modalities for repair of biological tissues.

2. Related Art

Techniques for repairing damaged or diseased tissue are widespread in medicine. Wound closure devices such as sutures, staples and other repair devices such as mesh or patch reinforcements are frequently used for repair. Surgical adhesives have been used to augment and, in some cases, replace sutures and staples in wound closure. For example, in the case of hernias, techniques involving the use of a mesh or patch to reinforce the abdominal wall are being used. The mesh or patch can generally be held in place by suturing or stapling to the surrounding tissue. Unfortunately, the use of such sutures or staples may increase the patient's discomfort and, in certain instances, there may be a risk of weakening thin or delicate tissue where they are attached. Certain techniques involve placing a mesh or patch against the repair site without suturing or stapling, e.g., allowing the pressure of the peritoneum to hold the patch against the posterior side of the abdominal wall. However, fixation of the mesh or patch is generally preferred in order to avoid folding, shrinkage, and migration of the mesh or patch. Surgical adhesives such as cyanoacrylates and fibrin glues have been used as fixatives in lieu of, or in addition to, suturing or stapling the mesh or patch. However, fibrin adhesives can be difficult to prepare and store. Cyanoacrylates may cause irritation at the point of application and may not provide a sufficient degree of elasticity. In addition, surgical adhesives can tend to form a physical barrier between the item or items being attached to biological tissue, thus interfering with tissue ingrowth into the item when ingrowth is desired.

Click chemistry is a popular term for reliable reactions that make it possible for certain chemical building blocks to “click” together and form an irreversible linkage. See, e.g., US Pub. No. 2005/0222427. Since its recent introduction, click chemistry has been used for ligation in biological and medical technology. In the case of azide-alkyne click chemistry, the reactions may be catalyzed or uncatalyzed. For example, copper-free click chemistry was recently developed by Bertozzi and colleagues using difluorinated cyclooctyne or DIFO, that reacts with azides rapidly at physiological temperatures without the need for a toxic catalyst. See, e.g., Baskin et al., Copper Free Click Chemistry for Dynamic In Vivo Imaging, PNAS, vol. 104, no. 43, 16793-16797 (Oct. 23, 2007). The critical reagent, a substituted cyclooctyne, possesses ring strain and electron-withdrawing fluorine substituents that together promote a [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition with azides. See also, US Pub. No. 2006/0110782 and Codelli et al., Second Generation Difluorinated Cyclooctynes for Copper-Free Click Chemistry, J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 130, no. 34, 11486-11493 (2008). Another suitable cyclooctyne is 6,7-dimethoxyazacyclooct-4-yne (DIMAC). See, Sletton and Bertozzi, A hydrophilic azacyclooctyne for Cu-free click chemistry, Org. Lett. (2008) 10 (14), 3097-3099. Other click chemistry reactions include Diels-Alder reactions, thiol-alkene reactions, and maleimide-thiol reactions. There is a continuing need to generate improvements in tissue repair technology and advance the state of the art.

SUMMARY

A method for bonding a polymeric medical device to biological tissue is provided which includes providing a polymeric medical device having a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair attached on a surface of the medical device, and providing tissue with a plurality of complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair, wherein upon contact of the reactive members on the surface of the medical device with the complimentary reactive members on the tissue, covalent bonds are formed between the reactive members and the complementary reactive members, thus bonding the device to the tissue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A surgical bonding system is provided which covalently bonds reactive members of a specific binding pair to one another via click chemistry. Click chemistry refers to a collection of reactive members having a high chemical potential energy capable of producing highly selective, high yield reactions. The reactive members react to form extremely reliable molecular connections in most solvents, including physiologic fluids, and often do not interfere with other reagents and reactions. Examples of click chemistry reactions include Huisgen cycloaddition, Diels-Alder reactions, thiol-alkene reactions, and maleimide-thiol reactions.

Huisgen cycloaddition is the reaction of a dipolarophile with a I,3-dipolar compound that leads to 5-membered (hetero)cycles. Examples of dipolarophiles are alkenes and alkynes and molecules that possess related heteroatom functional groups (such as carbonyls and nitriles). 1,3-Dipolar compounds contain one or more heteroatoms and can be described as having at least one mesomeric structure that represents a charged dipole. They include nitril oxides, azides, and diazoalkanes. Metal catalyzed click chemistry is an extremely efficient variant of the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between alkyl-aryly-sulfonyl azides, C—N triple bonds and C—C triple bonds which is well-suited herein. The results of these reactions are 1,2 oxazoles, 1,2,3 triazoles or tetrazoles. For example, 1,2,3 triazoles are formed by a copper catalyzed Huisgen reaction between alkynes and alkyl/aryl azides. Metal catalyzed Huisgen reactions proceed at ambient temperature, are not sensitive to solvents, i.e., nonpolar, polar, semipolar, and are highly tolerant of functional groups. Non-metal Huisgen reactions (also referred to as strain promoted cycloaddition) involving use of a substituted cyclooctyne, which possesses ring strain and electron-withdrawing substituents such as fluorine, that together promote a [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition with azides are especially well-suited for use herein due to low toxicity as compared to the metal catalyzed reactions. Examples include DIFO and DIMAC. Reaction of the alkynes and azides is very specific and essentially inert against the chemical environment of biological tissues. One reaction scheme may be represented as:

where R and R′ are a polymeric material or a component of a biologic tissue.

The Diels-Alder reaction combines a diene (a molecule with two alternating double bonds) and a dienophile (an alkene) to make rings and bicyclic compounds. Examples include:

The thiol-alkene(thiol-ene) reaction is a hydrothiolation, i.e., addition of RS—H across a C═C bond. The thiol-ene reaction proceeds via a free-radical chain mechanism. Initiation occurs by radical formation upon UV excitation of a photoinitiator or the thiol itself. Thiol-ene systems form ground state charge transfer complexes and therefore photopolymerize even in the absence of initiators in reasonable polymerization times. However, the addition of UV light increases the speed at which the reaction proceeds. The wavelength of the light can be modulated as needed, depending upon the size and nature of the constituents attached to the thiol or alkene. A general thiol-ene coupling reaction mechanism is represented below:

In accordance with the disclosure herein, a polymeric medical device, such as a surgical patch or mesh is provided with a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair attached on the surface of the medical device. When the reactive members of the medical device are contacted with biological tissue containing complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair, covalent attachment occurs, thus adhering the device to the tissue. In embodiments, the reactive members may be either a dipolarophile or a 1,3 dipolar compound depending on which complement is applied to the target tissue or the medical device. For example, if a dipolarphile is located on the device, the 1,3 dipolar compound will be located on the tissue. If a dipolarphile is located on the tissue, the 1,3 dipolar compound will be located on the device. In embodiments, the Diels-Alder members of a specific binding pair may be either a diene and a dienophile depending on which complement is applied to the target tissue or the medical device. For example, if a diene is located on the device, the dienophile can be located on the tissue. If a diene is located on the tissue, the dienophile can be located on the device. In embodiments, the thiol-ene members of a specific binding pair may be either a thiol and an alkene depending on which complement is applied to the target tissue or the device. For example, if a thiol is located on the device, the alkene can be located on the tissue. If a thiol is located on the tissue, the alkene can be located on the device.

The polymeric device may be constructed from biocompatible absorbable polymers or biocompatible non-absorbable polymers. Examples of suitable polymers include polycarbonates, polyolefins, polymethacrylates, polystyrenes, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyethylene terephthalate, poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(hydroxbutyrate), dioxanones (e.g., 1,4-dioxanone), δ-valerolactone, 1,dioxepanones (e.g., 1,4-dioxepan-2-one and 1,5-dioxepan-2-one), poly(phosphazine), polyesters, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxides, polyacrylamides, cellulose esters, fluoropolymers, vinyl polymers, silk, collagen, alginate, chitin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, glycosaminoglycans, polyhydroxyethylmethylacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polyacetate, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, glycerols, poly(amino acids), copoly(ether-esters), polyalkylene oxalates, polyamides, poly(iminocarbonates), polyalkylene oxalates, polyoxaesters, polyorthoesters, polyphosphazenes, polypeptides and copolymers, block copolymers, homoploymers, blends and combinations thereof.

In the present application, the term “bioresorbable” and “bioabsorbable” are used interchangeably and are intended to mean the characteristic according to which an implant and/or a material is resorbed by the biological tissues and the surrounding fluids and disappears in vivo after a given period of time, that may vary, for example, from one day to several months, depending on the chemical nature of the implant and/or of the material. Non bioresorbable material—also called permanent material—is not substantially resorbed by tissues and surrounding fluids, after 2 years and more, keeping in particular most (e.g., >80%) of their mechanical properties after such a time. The term “biocompatible” is intended to mean the characteristic according to which an implant and/or a material is well integrated by the biological tissues and the surrounding fluids without inducing excessive inflammation reaction around the bulk of the material or due to its degradation. The material should avoid also the formation of a fibrous capsule which usually results in the delay of the cellular integration of a porous implant.

Many of the above described examples of polymers do not contain functional groups in their molecules. In embodiments, the reactive members are attached to the medical device by surface modification techniques such as plasma treatment, silane coupling treatment and acid sensitization. Surface activation of the medical device can be achieved by acid or base hydrolysis, treatment by means of cold plasma, by chemical reactions or electromagnetic radiations.

Hydrolysis can be conducted in the presence of an aqueous solution of a base or an acid to accelerate surface reaction, inasmuch as excessively long processes of activation can induce a reduction in molecular weight and thus in the mechanical properties of the material. Suitable bases for obtaining watery solutions suited to the aim are, for example, strong alkalis, such as LiOH, Ba(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, NaOH, KOH, Na₂CO₃, Ca(OH)₂ and the weak bases, such as for example NH₄ OH and the ammines such as methylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine and dimethylamine. Acids suitable for surface hydrolysis treatments can be chosen, for example, from among HCl, HClO₃, HClO₄, H₂SO₃, H₂SO₄, H₃PO₃, H₃PO₄, HI, HIO₃, HBr, lactic acid, glycolic acid. Surface activation by means of hydrolysis can be conducted at temperatures preferably comprised between 0 degrees Celsius and the material softening temperature.

Plasma treatment can be carried out both in the presence of a reactive gas, for example air, Ar, O₂ with the formation of surface activation of oxygenate type, such as —OH, —CHO, —COOH.

Surface treatment, whether hydrolytic or with plasma, can remain unaltered or can be followed by further chemical modifications to provide the first reactive groups on the bioabsorbable polymeric substrate. Thus, for example, the COONa groups generated by a base hydrolysis can be subsequently converted into COOH groups by treatment with strong mineral acids. Further, the surface freeing of alcoholic groups by means of a hydrolysis process can be followed by reaction by means of the addition of a compound provided with functional group or groups able to react with surface alcoholic groups, such as for example by means of the addition of an anhydride such as succinic anhydride, with the conversion of —OH groups into —O—CO—CH₂—CH₂—COOH groups. Suitable surface activation techniques are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,453, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.

During manufacture of polymers, pendant functional groups can be incorporated into the polymer backbone by, e.g., copolymerization with functionalized monomer such as lactones, cyclic carbonates and morpholine-2,5-diones. The azido group, N₃ is a nucleophilic group that will exchange with other nucleophilic groups, e.g., —OH, —NH₂ and halogens (Br, Cl, or I). For example, 1,3-dipolar compounds may be conjugated to aliphatic polyesters, by copolymerizing ε-caprolactone and α-chloro-ε-caprolactone and then substituting an azide group for the Cl atom. Polyesters can incorporate pendant dipolarophiles, e.g., propargyl groups, by copolymerization of ε-caprolactone and α-propargyl-δ-valerolactone. Copolymers of L-lactide containing propargyl groups may, e.g., be prepared by ring opening copolymerization of 5-methyl-5-propargyloxycarbonyl-1,3-dioxanone with L-lactide at a molar ratio of about 90:10 with ZnEt₂ as a catalyst. See, Shi et al., Biomaterials, 29 (2008)1118-1126. Azide functionalized polystyrene is synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization and subsequent modification with azidotrimethylsilane and tetrabutylammonium fluoride. See, Dirks, et al., Chem. Comm., (2005) 4172-4174. Azides may be incorporated onto methacrylates, e.g., 3 azidopropyl methacrylate which is copolymerized to a block copolymer. Diels-Alder functionalities and thiol-ene functionalities are likewise incorporated into polymers herein.

In embodiments, the medical device is a surgical patch. The surgical patch may be selected from any conventional patch type that is suitable for use in tissue reinforcement, e.g., hernia repair, or as an anti-adhesion barrier, hemostatic patch, bandages, pledgets and the like. Many types of patches are currently available and are well known to those skilled in the art. Exemplary polymeric patch materials include nonabsorbable polyester cloth, polyester sheeting, acrylic cloth, polyvinyl sponge or foam, polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE), expanded PTFE, and polyvinyl cloth. Any of the biocompatible polymers listed above may be utilized. In another embodiment, the medical device is a surgical mesh, e.g., polypropylene mesh, nylon mesh, and Dacron mesh. Exemplary absorbable meshes include collagen, polyglycolic acid, polyglactin, polycaprolactone, chitosan, and carbon fiber mesh. It should be understood that any of the above-mentioned biocompatible polymers may be suitable for use herein.

Indeed, the patch or mesh may be produced from fibers of any biocompatible polymer using any techniques known to those skilled in the art, such as knitting, weaving, tatting, nonwoven techniques, freeze drying, solvent casting and the like. It is envisioned that the patch or mesh may be formed from any permanent biocompatible materials (e.g. polyesters, polypropylene), biodegradable biocompatible materials (e.g. polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, oxidized cellulose, and chitosan) or with a combination at any proportion of both permanent and biodegradable materials. The medical device may, for example, have an openwork three-dimensional (“3D”) structure (see, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,032, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference), e.g., a “honeycomb” structure, and thus a certain thickness which separates the two surfaces of the fabric.

In certain embodiments, the patch is composed of a biopolymer foam having openings or pores over at least a portion of a surface thereof. The pores may be in sufficient number and size so as to interconnect across the entire thickness of the porous layer. Alternatively, the pores may not interconnect across the entire thickness of the porous layer. Closed cell foams are illustrative examples of structures in which the pores may not interconnect across the entire thickness of the porous layer. In yet other embodiments, the pores do not extend across the entire thickness of the foam, but rather are present at a portion of the surface thereof. In some embodiments, the openings or pores are located on a portion of the surface of the porous layer, with other portions of the porous layer having a non-porous texture. Those skilled in the art may envision other pore distribution patterns and configurations for the foam.

In certain embodiments, the foam may be made from non-denatured collagen or collagen which has at least partially lost its helical structure through heating or any other known method, consisting mainly of non-hydrolyzed a chains, and having a molecular weight, in embodiments, of about 100 kDa. The collagen used for the porous layer of the present disclosure may be native collagen or atelocollagen, which may be obtained via pepsin digestion and/or after moderate heating as defined hereinabove. The origin and type of collagen may be as indicated for the non-porous layer described hereinabove.

The collagen may be cured to any desired degree. The collagen suspension or solution may be made from non-cured, moderately cured, highly cured or extremely highly cured collagens or combinations thereof at any proportions. As used herein, the term “moderately cured” is intended to mean that the degradation of the porous layer will be at least about 90% complete (as measured by residual weight) by the end of about three weeks of implantation; the term “highly cured” is intended to mean that the degradation of the porous layer will be at least about 90% complete (as measured by residual weight) by the end of about three months of implantation; and the term “extremely highly cured” is intended to mean that the degradation of the porous layer will be at least about 90% complete (as measured by residual weight) by the end of about two years of implantation.

Moderately cured collagen may be obtained by oxidative cleavage of collagen by periodic acid or one of its salts, as described for collagens of the non-porous layer. In embodiments, highly cured collagen may be made from collagen cross-linked by glutaratdehyde or by any other known cross-linking agents such as, for example, but not limited to, isocyanates. The degree of crosslinking distinguishes between highly cured and very highly cured materials. Techniques for curing to various degrees are within the purview of those skilled in the art.

In certain embodiments, the collagen may optionally include non collagenic components, such as glycosaminoglycans, for example, but not limited to, chitosan. The glycosaminoglycans, in embodiments, display a degree of acetylation (DA) of from about 0.5% to about 50%, have a molecular weight ranging from about 100 g/mol to about 1,000,000 g/mol, and may display a low polydispersity index of from about 1 to about 2. In certain embodiments, the collagen may be a mixture of chitosans and other glycosamoniglycans, for example, but not limited to, hyaluronic acid, which, after deacettylation have free amino groups capable of cross-linking to the oxidized collagen. It is contemplated that the collagen suspension or solution may be a combination of oxidized collagen and chitosan which can form a cross-linked network. In certain embodiments, patch or mesh may be formed from one or more bioresorbable, natural biological polymers. Suitable natural biological polymers include, but are not limited to, collagen, gelatin, cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxyethyl cellulose, chitin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and other gycosaminoglycans and combinations thereof. In alternate embodiments, the polymer constituent may be a polysaccharide such as chitin or chitosan, or polysaccharides modified by oxidation of alcohol functions into carboxylic functions such as oxidized cellulose. It is contemplated that the natural biological polymers may be combined with any biocompatible synthetic materials to produce the porous layer of the implant.

Biological tissue is provided with reactive members of a specific binding pair by conjugation to various components of tissue such as proteins, lipids, oligosaccharides, oligonucleotides, glycans, including glycosaminoglycans. In one embodiment, the reactive members or complementary reactive members are attached directly to components of the tissue. In another embodiment, the reactive members or complementary reactive members are attached to components of the tissue via a linker. In either case, situating the reactive members or complementary reactive members on the tissue can be accomplished by suspending the reactive members or complementary reactive members in a solution or suspension and applying the solution or suspension to the tissue such that the reactive member binds to a target. The solution or suspension may be poured, sprayed or painted onto the tissue, whereupon the reactive members or complementary reactive members are incorporated into the tissue.

1,3-Dipolar compounds can be incorporated into proteins, lipids, oligosaccharides, oligonucleotides and glycans using, e.g., metabolic machinery, covalent inhibitors and enzymatic transfers. For example, an azido group, N₃, can be applied at the N-terminus of proteins or peptides using azidoacetyl chloride. See, e.g., Haridas, et al., Tetrahedron Letters 48 (2007) 4719-4722. The azido group is a nucleophilic group that will exchange with other nucleophilic groups, e.g., —OH, —NH₂ and halogens (Br, Cl, or I). NaN₃ is an azidizing agent which is capable of aziding proteins by simply contacting the proteins with a 10 times molar excess of NaN₃. A process for C-terminal azidization is described in Cazalis, et al., Bioconjugate Chem., 15 (2004) 1005-1009. Incubation of cells with peracetylated N-azidoacetylmannosamine provides cell surface glycans with azido sialic acid. See, e.g., Codelli et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 130 (34) 11486-11493 (2008). Azido-tagged lipids are described in Smith, et al., Bioconjugate Chem., 19 (9), 1855-1863 (2008). PEGylation is a commonly used technique for adding groups to to peptides and proteins and is suitable for use herein. For example, PEG may be covalently bound to amino acid residues via a reactive group. Reactive groups (as opposed to reactive members herein) are those to which an activated PEG molecule may be bound (e. g., a free amino or carboxyl group). For example, N-terminal amino acid residues and lysine (K) residues have a free amino group and C-terminal amino acid residues have a free carboxyl group. Sulfhydryl groups (e.g., as found on cysteine residues) may also be used as a reactive group for attaching PEG. In addition, enzyme-assisted methods for introducing activated groups (e.g., hydrazide, aldehyde, and aromatic-amino groups) specifically at the C-terminus of a polypeptide. Accordingly, PEG incorporating 1,3-dipolar compounds may be utilized herein. Those skilled in the art can utilize any known process for coupling a 1,3-dipolar compound into proteins, lipids, oligosaccharides, oligonucleotides and glycans.

Dipolarophile functionalized proteins and peptides can be synthesized by linking at the N-terminus with, for example, an alkyne (e.g., 3 butynyl chloroformate), in connection with a tripeptide (GlyGlyArg). See, Dirks, et al., supra. A suitable tripeptide herein is the well-known cell adhesion sequence RGD. It should be understood that, as used herein, “proteins” is intended to encompass peptides and polypeptides. In one embodiment, thiols on cysteines are functionalized with alkyne bearing maleimide. Id. Providing a C-terminal dipolarophile can be accomplished, e.g., by coupling with propargylamine using a cross-linking agent such as N-hydroxysuccinimide/DCC. See, e.g., Haridas, et al. supra. Terminal alkynes can be installed using metabolic building blocks such as alkynoic acids. Lipids may be functionalized with alkynes. For example, alkyne modified fatty acids can be generated by reaction of terminal alkynyl-alkyl bromide with trimethyl phosphine to yield a 16 carbon alkynyl-dimethylphosphonate. See, e.g., Raghavan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 18 (2008) 5982-5986. As above, PEGylation may be used for adding dipolarophile groups to peptides and proteins and is suitable for use herein. Diels-Alder functionalities and thiol-ene functionalities are likewise attached to proteins, lipids, oligosaccharides, oligonucleotides and glycans.

The reactive members or complementary reactive members may be also attached to biological tissue via a linker. In certain embodiments, the linker is or includes a ligand which bears a reactive member. The ligand binds to a desired target on the tissue and thus provides a vehicle for transporting and indirectly binding the reactive member to the tissue. The ligand herein is any molecule or combination of molecules which demonstrates an affinity for a target. Examples of ligands include nucleic acid probes, antibodies, hapten conjugates, and cell adhesion peptides such as RGD. The mechanisms involved in obtaining and using such ligands are well-known. In embodiments, reactive members or complementary reactive members are incorporated into saccharides or polysaccharides and metabolically incorporated into cells. See, e.g., Baskin et al., supra.

Antibodies that specifically recognize antigens are useful in accordance with one embodiment herein. Antibodies which are conjugated to a reactive member are utilized to bind to proteins located on tissue. Monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies are raised against an antigen which can be any component of biological tissue and then purified using conventional techniques. The term “antibody” is intended to include whole antibodies, e.g., of any isotype (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, etc.), and to include fragments thereof which are also specifically reactive with a vertebrate, e.g., mammalian, protein. Antibodies may be fragmented using conventional techniques and the fragments screened for utility in the same manner as for whole antibodies. Thus, the term includes segments of proteolytically-cleaved or recombinantly-prepared portions of an antibody molecule that are capable of selectively reacting with a certain protein. Non-limiting examples of such proteolytic and/or recombinant fragments include Fab, F(ab′)2, Fab′, Fv, and single chain antibodies (scFv) containing a V[L] and/or V[H] domain joined by a peptide linker. The scFv's may be covalently or non-covalently linked to form antibodies having two or more binding sites. The present disclosure includes polyclonal, monoclonal or other purified preparations of antibodies and recombinant antibodies.

After purification, the ligands (e.g., antibodies, nucleic acid probes, hapten conjugates and cell adhesion peptides), are conjugated or linked to reactive members or complementary reactive members in the manners described above. In addition, reactive members or complementary reactive members can be linked to ligands by cross-linking procedures which, in accordance with the present invention, do not cause denaturing or misfolding of the ligands. The terms “linked” or “conjugated” as used herein are used interchangeably and are intended to include any or all of the mechanisms known in the art for coupling the reactive members or complementary reactive members to the ligand. For example, any chemical or enzymatic linkage known to those with skill in the art is contemplated including those which result from photoactivation and the like. Homofunctional and heterobifunctional cross linkers are all suitable. Reactive groups (distinguishable from reactive members or complementary reactive members herein) which can be cross-linked with a cross-linker include primary amines, sulfhydryls, carbonyls, carbohydrates and carboxylic acids.

Cross-linkers are conventionally available with varying lengths of spacer arms or bridges. Cross-linkers suitable for reacting with primary amines include homobifunctional cross-linkers such as imidoesters and N-hydroxysuccinimidyl (NHS) esters. Examples of imidoester cross-linkers include dimethyladipimidate, dimethylpimelimidate, and dimethylsuberimidate. Examples of NHS-ester cross-linkers include disuccinimidyl glutamate, disucciniminidyl suberate and bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate. Accessible amine groups present on the N-termini of peptides react with NHS-esters to form amides. NHS-ester cross-linking reactions can be conducted in phosphate, bicarbonate/carbonate, HEPES and borate buffers. Other buffers can be used if they do not contain primary amines. The reaction of NHS-esters with primary amines should be conducted at a pH of between about 7 and about 9 and a temperature between about 4° C. and 30° C. for about 30 minutes to about 2 hours. The concentration of NHS-ester cross-linker can vary from about 0.1 to about 10 mM. NHS-esters are either hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Hydrophilic NHS-esters are reacted in aqueous solutions although DMSO may be included to achieve greater solubility. Hydrophobic NHS-esters are dissolved in a water miscible organic solvent and then added to the aqueous reaction mixture.

Sulfhydryl reactive cross-linkers include maleimides, alkyl halides, aryl halides and a-haloacyls which react with sulfhydryls to form thiol ether bonds and pyridyl disulfides which react with sulfhydryls to produce mixed disulfides. Sulfhydryl groups on peptides and proteins can be generated by techniques known to those with skill in the art, e.g., by reduction of disulfide bonds or addition by reaction with primary amines using 2-iminothiolane. Examples of maleimide cross-linkers include succinimidyl 4-{N-maleimido-methyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate and m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. Examples of haloacetal cross-linkers include N-succinimidyl (4-iodoacetal)aminobenzoate and sulfosuccinimidyl(4-iodoacetal)aminobenzoate. Examples of pyridyl disulfide cross-linkers include 1,4-Di-[3′-2′-pyridyldithio(propionamido)butane] and N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate.

Carboxyl groups are cross-linked to primary amines or hydrazides by using carbodimides which result in formation of amide or hydrazone bonds. In this manner, carboxy-termini of peptides or proteins can be linked. Examples of carbodiimide cross-linkers include 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride and N, N¹-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Arylazide cross-linkers become reactive when exposed to ultraviolet radiation and form aryl nitrene. Examples of arylazide cross-linkers include azidobenzoyl hydrazide and N-5-azido-2 nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide. Glyoxal cross linkers target the guanidyl portion of arginine. An example of a glyoxal cross-linker is p-azidophenyl glyoxal monohydrate.

Heterobifunctional cross-linkers which possess two or more different reactive groups are suitable for use herein. Examples include cross-linkers which are amine-reactive at one end and sulfhydryl-reactive at the other end such as 4-succinimidyl-oxycarbonyl-a-(2-pyridyldithio)-toluene, N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate and the maleimide cross-linkers discussed above.

Attachment of reactive members to the medical device functionalizes the device such that upon exposure to their complementary reactive members which are situated on tissue, they are activated and form a covalent bond, thus adhering the device to the tissue. In one embodiment, a linker between the product of the reactive members or complementary reactive members and the biological tissue is degradable by , e.g., hydrolysis or enzymatic action. In this manner, the medical device can be removable after a period of time. The degradable linkage may be, e.g., chelates or chemically or enzymatically hydrolyzable or absorbable. Illustrative chemically hydrolyzable degradable linkages include polymers, copolymers and oligomers of glycolide, dl-lactide, 1-lactide, caprolactone, dioxanone, and tritnethylene carbonate. Illustrative enzymatically hydrolyzable biodegradable linkages include peptidic linkages cleavable by metalloproteinases and collagenases. Additional illustrative degradable linkages include polymers and copolymers of poly(hydroxy acid)s, poly(orthocarbonate)s, poly(anhydride)s, poly(lactone)s, poly(amino acid)s, poly(carbonate)s, poly(saccharide)s and poly(phosphonate)s. In certain embodiments, the degradable linkage may contain ester linkages. Some non-limiting examples include esters of succinic acid, glutaric acid, propionic acid, adipic acid, or amino acids, as well as carboxymethyl esters.

The medical device may be cut to a desired shape, packaged in single or dual pouches and sterilized by gamma or beta irradiation at 25-35 Kgy or by ethylene oxide. The ligand solution could be sterilized by the previous cited method or by filtration in sterile conditions on 0.22 um filter.

A kit for a medical device herein includes a polymeric medical device such as a mesh or a patch which has a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair attached to a surface of the device and a container which optionally functions as an applicator and is adapted to contain a mixture including complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair, the complementary reactive members having a functionality that will adhere them to biological tissue upon contact. The kit may optionally include a container which contains a catalyst for causing the reactive members of a specific binding pair to bind with the complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair. The catalyst may be a metal such as copper in solution. In embodiments, the kit contains a generator of microwaves or ultraviolet radiation.

It should be understood that variations can be made to the above embodiments that are with the purview of ordinary skill in the art. For example, other click chemistry reactions are suitable for use herein, e.g., Staudinger reaction of phosphines with alkyl azides. It is contemplated that the above-described cross-linkers may be applied to polymers which make up the medical device to bind reactive members or complementary reactive members thereto. Accordingly, those skilled in the art can envision modifications which are included within the scope of the claimed invention that are not expressly set forth herein. 

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A kit comprising a polymeric medical device having a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair attached to a surface of the device and an container containing a mixture which can be a solution or suspension of complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair, the complementary reactive members having a functionality adapted to adhere them to biological tissue upon contact, and an applicator adapted to deliver the solution or suspension to biological tissue.
 21. A kit according to claim 20 further comprising a container for containing a solution of a metal.
 22. A kit according to claim 20 further comprising a generator for generating microwaves or ultraviolet radiation. 